Robbie Carrico, one of the ousted American Idol contestants, has admitted he once dated Britney Spears.

The 26-year-old rocker used to be in pop group Boyz N Girlz United, and they opened for the starlet's tour in 1999.

"It wasn't really that big a deal," he told reporters in a conference call.

"We went on a couple of dates but that's pretty much it. She was always real down to earth. She's a really good girl."

Robbie was one of the latest four contestants to be eliminated from the reality singing competition, and was told by judge Simon Cowell that he lacked authenticity.

"I've spent the past six years working my tail off in grungy bars and pulling our own trailer with our own equipment, loading it in and out and living from a van sometimes, doing all the grunt work," he said in response to Simon's comment.